Pension

State of Pennsylvania

Beaver County

On the 4th day of March A.D. 1833 Personally appeared in open court before John Braden Esq & President and Thomas Henry and Joseph Hemphill Esqs. associate Judges of the court of Common pleas of Beaver County aforesaid James Allworth at resident of North Beaver Township.[1] In the county of Beaver and State of Pennsylvania aforesaid aged seventy two ^ years who being first duly sworn according to law doth on lies oath make the following declaration in order to obtain the benefit and the act of Congress passed June 4th 1832.

That he catered the services of the United States under the following manned officers, and served as herein stated: That he entered the service of the United States in the first of January A.D. 1776 as a volunteer and assembled in Carlisle in Pennsylvania, at which place Charles McClay was chosen Captain by John Stewart Lieutenant from Carlisle he marched to the city of Philadelphia and there entered the regiment commanded by Colonel Joseph Armstrong and Lieutenant Colonel Robert Peebles and from thence he crossed the Delaware river at Carlisle Ferry and marched to a place about four or five miles from Brunswick, New Jersey and remained there during the winter, scouting along the English lines and in the middle of March of the same year he marched to Philadelphia and was there discharged about the twentieth of the same month, after having served at least two months and a half.[2] That in the middle of May 1781 he entered the service again as a volunteer under the Command of Major McCalmont.[3] There be no other officers now recollected and marched from Lurgan township, Cumberland County Pennsylvania, to Standing Stone on the Juniath (Now Huntington) and from thence to Franktown at the head waters of the Juniath and remained there until he heard of the surrender of Lord Cornwallis a few days and was discharged by Major McCalmont after having served not less than fifteen days. That about the middle of July 1781 was drafted in the militia of Pennsylvania under the command of Major William McFarlan and Colonel James Johnston- The Company to which he belonged was ^ commanded by Lieutenant Robert Quigley and ensign Samuel Walker, (The other officers if any not now recollected), and marched from Lurgan Township, Cumberland County, Pennsylvania, to Standing Stone on the Juniath (now Huntington) and from thence to Frankstown at the headwater of the Juniath, and remained there until he heard of the surrender of Lord Cornwallis, which he heard of in the first of November 1781, after having served at least three months and a half.[4] In the whole having served not less than six months and a half and that on the second tour he provided his own arms and provisions.

And further saith that he has no discharges or other documentary evidence of any of his services, and that he does not know of any person now living who can testify to his services, and that during the times stated in the foregoing declaration of his services he resided in Lurgan Township Cumberland County (now Franklin) in the state of Pennsylvania

He hereby relinquishes every claim whatever to a pension or amunity except the present, and declares that his name is not on the pension role of the agency of any state sworn and subscribed the day and year aforesaid in open court

[James Alworth signature]

James Logan

The John Clarke - and John Nesbit residing in the County of Beaver in the State of Pennsylvania do hereby certify that we are well acquainted with James Allworth who has subscribed the foregoing declaration: that we believe him to be seventy two years of age: that he is reputed and believed in the neighborhood where he now resides, and has resided for some years, to have been a soldier of the revolution and that we concur in that opinion

Sworn and subscribed the day and year aforesaid [James Clarke and John Nisbit signatures]

James Logan

And the court do hereby declare their opinion after the investigation of the matter and after pulling the interrogatories prescribed by the Coar Department that the above and foregoing named applicant was a revolutionary soldier and served as he states, and the court certifies that it appears to them that John Clarke and John Nesbit who have signed the above certificate are residents of the county of Beaver aforesaid and are credible persons, and that their statement is entitled to credit.

I James Logan Clerk of the court of Common Pleas of Beaver County in the State of Pennsylvania do hereby certify that the above and foregoing contains the original proceedings of the said Court in the matter of the application of James Allsworth for a pension

In Testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and the seal of said county of Beaver this sixth day of March A.D. 1833

[James Logan signature]

Beaver County of the Commonwealth of Penn.

Personally came before Thomas Henry one of the Judges of the Court of Common pleas of Said County James Alsworth, who made the foregoing declaration to procure a pension and being sworn Saith that he was born in Lurgan Township, then Cumberland County, near Franklin County in the State of Penn. That he lived there during the Revolutionary War, and from that place was called into service, that after the war resided in the same place, until 1804 or 1805. When he removed to Beaver County Pennsylvania Where he was resided ever since that he has no Record of his age, that he cannot give any fuller account of the regular officers where he was stationed than before stated, nor can he now give any more circumstances relating to his service that can throw any further light on the subject

That he never received any written discharge but was duly discharged by verbal order. That it is not convenient for him to procure a Clergyman to Certify for him, his Clergyman in the Church to which he belongs is at a distance of twenty four miles, ____ is now old and ____ and travels with great difficulty, and his memory ____ much impaired, he could name a great many to Certify as to his character, but could name none more reputable than John Clarke and John Nesbit Esquires, who has already made such a certificate. [James Alworth signature]

Sworn and Subscribed before me the 16th day of Sept. 1833

[Thomas Henry signature]

Endnotes

[1] James Alworth was married to Margaret Strain, daughter of John Strain. She had two sisters, Sarah and Mary, and a brother named James. Sarah married a man named John Wilson and had a daughter named Elizabeth. Mary married a James Caldwell, with whom she had a daughter named Isabella. James Caldwell also served in the Revolution. James Alworth was very likely a farmer before the war. His father, Benjamin, and two eldest brothers, Benjamin and Andrew, were farmers. His father, one of the first frontiersmen of the area, had many disputes with the local natives over land. His two brothers were also known to have fought with the natives. It is likely that these disputes carried on into James’ life. 17. After the war, he stayed in Lurgan Township, his birthplace, until 1804 or 1805. He then moved to Beaver Township in Beaver County, PA.

[2] James Alworth served as a private under the following officers in the 5th Battalion of the Cumberland County Militia.

Colonel Joseph Armstrong- He was born in 1739 in Hamilton Township and died in 1811. He is buried with his wife, Elizabeth, in the Rocky Springs Graveyard, a Scotch-Irish Presbyterian cemetery. His father, a pioneer, was also named Joseph Armstrong, and led incursions against Native Americans in the frontier. From eldest to youngest, his siblings were John, Thomas, James, William, Katherine, and Margaret. His two elder brothers, John and Thomas, fought against the natives with their father.

Lieutenant Colonel Robert Peebles- Also of Hamilton Township, he was Colonel of Militia in July, 1776. He is shown as First Lieut. 4th Penna. Regt. Cont. Line, served continuously with pay, and transferred to the Third on Jan. lst, 1783. He had a brother named George and a wife named Sarah. His children were Isaac, Robert, John, Arabella, and Sarah.

Captain Charles McClay- He was born in ‘48 and served in the militia from 1776-1778, when he was killed with most of his company at the battle of Crooked Billet because they refused to surrender. The bodies were subsequently gathered by the enemy, covered with straw, and burned. He had two brothers, John and Samuel, and three sisters, Eleanor (who died young), Martha, and Elizabeth. Elizabeth married Colonel Samuel Culbertson (below). His parents were Charles and Eleanor Query McCay from Antrim County, Ireland.

[3] From mid-May to mid-June, 1781, he served in the 4th battalion of the Cumberland County Militia as a private under the following known officers:

Lieutenant Colonel Samuel Culbertson- He took the Oath of Allegiance in 1777-78 in Cumberland County, in which he resided. His wife was named Eleanor. His children were Samuel, John, Robert, Joseph, Alexander, Agnes, Martha, Joanne, Mary, Jennet, and James.

Major James McCalmont- He was a member of the old Log Church in Rocky Spring. He died on July 19, 1809 at 70 years old in Letterkenny Township, Franklin County. He was passionate about fighting the Native Americans and was a well-known runner. His father was James McCalmont Sr. His wife’s name was Margaret. He had three siblings named John, Margaret, and Mary.

[4] Alworth was drafted into the 4th Battalion of the Cumberland County Militia under the following officers:

Colonel James Johnston- He was a colonel from 1777 to 1782. He was married to Jane Park of Bucks County, PA. He had siblings named Mary, Thomas, John, Elizabeth, and Martha. In 1800, he bought land from John and Mary Kelly along with Jean Paul in Fannett Township.

Major William McFarlan-

Captain James Miller- He was a member of the West Conococheague Church, a reformed church near Mercersburg.

Lieutenant Robert Quigley-

Ensign Samuel Walker- Married Elizabeth Barr and was listed as the legal guardian for her brother John if her father were to die while he was still a child. His daughter was named Margaret.